Bahá’í World/Volume 34/The Year in Review

The Bahá’í World
Volume 34

The Year in Review

ince the turn of the twenty—first century, Bahé’l’s the world over

have been engaged in a systematic process designed to foster

the quantitative and qualitative growth of their worldwide community. In the year under review, there has been an impres— sive proliferation of activities aimed at fostering spiritual and social development, inspired by training programs which have galvanized individuals and communities. “Core activities,” comprising children’s classes, study circles, and devotional meetings, are being carried out worldwide with increasing skill, enthusiasm, and effectiveness. The momentum generated by these endeavors is reﬂected in Bahé’l' contributions to many diverse areas, including education, racial unity, social and economic development, gender equality, the arts, and interfaith dialogue.

Though capturing all of the events of the year 2005—2006 would be impossible to attempt, the highlights included here should provide a salient glimpse of the character of the Bahé’l’ community and its efforts to uplift the whole of humanity as it moves through a period of turbulent transition to embrace unity and a lasting peace.

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Education of children, junior youth, and youth

In calling for the building of a new global civilization, Baha’u’llah requests that particular attention be paid to education: “We prescribe unto all men that which will lead to the exaltation 0f the Word of God amongst His servants, and likewise, to the advancement of the world of being and the uplift ofsouls. To this end, the greatest means is education of the child.”' ‘Abdu’l—Baha described the education and training of children as being among “the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almighty God.”2

In light of the paramount importance attached to education in the Baha’i writings, it is not surprising that children’s Classes have been a vital concern of the Baha’i community since its earliest days. The Universal House of Justice has given them high priority by designating them as one of the “core activities” ofpresent-day Baha’i' community life. Indeed, in many parts of the world, children’s classes are the first activity in a process of community building which give rise to other developments, including the education ofjunior youth (11—14 year olds), parents and the extended family, and the spiritual and material development of the wider community. Stories from around the world attest to the commitment that individuals and communities in the past year have made to the education of the young in spiritual and moral values.

Junior youth in Colombia joined Baha’f—inspired groups with great enthusiasm, resulting in the establishment ofstrong friendships and a sense of belonging. Their confidence in contributing to the betterment of society has increased as they have carried out service projects including tree planting, visiting the elderly, and helping children’s class teachers. Also in Colombia, a Baha’i mother planning a Class invited a group of children she had noticed playing in the common area of their high-rise apartment buildings. More than a dozen of them attended for many months every Saturday morning. Their parents proved to be receptive to the idea ofspiritual education for their children and supported the teacher’s efforts. In Texas, USA, a Baha’i schoolteacher launched a similar program in an apartment complex largely inhabited by Spanish—speaking immigrants. More than 20 children attended the classes while their mothers enthusiasti— cally invited more young people from the neighborhood.

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Participants in the Youth Empowerment Program in Swindon, UK.

In Tajikistan, a Baha’i began classes with young people from the Roma community, who are generally shunned by the local Tajik and Uzbek populations. Many illiterate Roma children, aged between 5 and I7, attended the classes three times a week. Among their activi— ties was a Visit to see a dentist at work. He was so inspired by their teacher’s dedication that he explained to the Roma children about their history and the importance of education. He appealed to them to become the generation that changes the fortunes of their people and grow to be outstanding servants to the community. The students said they wished to become educated and subsequently registered their younger siblings for children’s classes.

In Swindon, United Kingdom, the Baha’i-inspired Youth Empowerment Program entered its fifth year with 10 learning men— tors from six schools completing a facilitator course and establishing the program in their respective schools. The program addresses the theme of spirit as a motivating force in the development of young people. Two education courses, entitled “Tranquility Zone” and “Discovery Zone,” have been developed for young people. Role playing, games, and activities help the youth internalize insights they gain about their potential and capacities. Three factors are being used to measure the success of the program: young people feeling

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better about themselves and appreciating their self—worth, improved behavior at school and at home, and willingness to engage in learn- ing and community service.

The Baha’i community of the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts and Nevis facilitated moral empowerment classes as a pilot project in selected local secondary schools, with the cooperation and blessing of the national Ministry of Education. The program included the study of materials about Virtues and activities involving their practical application. At the conclusion of a workshop and training in September 2005, the islands’ minister of education presented the certificates, generating media interest.

A Sunday morning Family Virtues Breakfast in Manitoba, Canada, attracted as many as 80 children and their parents each week. The program—which is held in one of Winnipeg’s most socially deprived suburbs—placed an emphasis on helping children build positive moral capacities. Virtues were taught using crafts, drawing, reading, and participative games. Organizations were keen to make donations towards food, craft supplies, and equipment. Other social service groups began to inquire about the project’s successful approach.

A four—day seminar on “Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment” was held in New Delhi, India, in December 2005, organized by the Foundation for Advancement of Science, Bhopal. More than 90 participants attended from 15 countries. Those attending the seminar heard how in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, where junior youth programs were initiated three years previously, the young participants had become the most active and enthusiastic members of their communities, keen to apply their skills to the teaching of younger children and other junior youth. In Lucknow, a Baha’i youth association, “The Peacemakers,” conducted spiritual empowerment programs in two government schools with 84 students. The junior youth attended Classes in which moral dilemmas were acted out and discussion was encouraged about creative solutions to problems. On I August 2005, the Baha’i community of Panchgani and the New Era High School celebrated the school’s 60th anniversary. Among the presentations was a performance depicting the early history of the school by secondary students.

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A group of participants at t/ae Norwegian 34/74 ’1’ mmmer school takes part in a 10-hour bike across the Besseggm mountain range. More than 430 Balm’ ’z’sﬂom 12 countries attend the summer school.

During a period of great Civil unrest and soul searching in Paris, France, a group of Bahai’l's was able to initiate a Children’s class. A large educational center showed interest in providing them with a venue. Initially, the center asked the Bahé’fs to work only with children. However, after seeing the positive effects on the attendees, the center arranged for a group of 12 junior youth also to begin a program. In Australia, a psychology student, in the course of being interviewed for a volunteer counseling position at a multicultural center, mentioned her training in Bahé’l’ junior youth programs. Her interviewer was very interested and inquired about the possibil— ity of starting a program at the center, aimed particularly at young people who had recently immigrated to Australia. A successful bid for government funding resulted in a 20—week pilot project.

In California, USA, the Bahé’I—inspired organization known as the Children’s Enrichment Program (CEP), underwent several major changes as it evolved into the Leadership Enrichment 86 Arts

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Program (LEAP) this year. Over a 12—year period, the Baha’i—inspired organization and its staff developed a new curriculum for the after- school program. Marketed as Full—Circle Learning, the curriculum has been made adaptable for in-school, after—school, summer, weekend, and home-school programs. It also has won honors such as the John Anson Ford Human Relations Award, which lauded CEP for “infusing character education, conﬂict resolution, and community service into academic and arts enrichment.” The program is supervised by the Multicultural Organization for Neighborhood Arts (MONA), a non— profit Bahé’f—inspired organization established to provide programs for social good and promote the oneness of humanity through the arts, classes, and job skills training for young people.

A Babe“ in Taiwan established a moral education class at her child’s elementary school. The mother of one participant expressed an interest to learn more and joined a training institute program along with some of her friends. As a result of the training, these women established five new children’s classes for almost 30 children. When they observed the positive effect that the classes were hav— ing on their younger children, they also formed a group for junior youth. A weekly class started by a 12 year old in Nicaragua continued into its fourth year. Initially, II neighborhood children attended and liked the class so much that during their vacations they went to the class daily. Speaking with the children’s parents, this young Baha’i learned that they valued the lessons that were helping their children to understand and practice spiritual qualities in their daily lives. In Romania, the Mayﬂower Kindergarten in Covasna offers a full—day program as well as English lessons in the afternoons. The school, which began in 2001, has renovated three classrooms for the use of its kindergarten pupils.

In Mongolia, a camp was organized to train teachers to work with junior youth. Fifty—eight participants attended and plans were made for volunteers to spend their summer holidays in villages and then to Visit them regularly during the year in order to maintain contact with the junior youth there. Each of the volunteers pledged to work with one urban and one rural group. A junior youth program in Cameroon has been started by the Baha’i—inspired nongovern- mental organization (NGO) Emergence—Foundation for Education and Development. After about 18 months of concerted effort, 21

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junior youth groups with 418 participants had been established in six areas. In March 2005, a junior youth program was launched in Nepal in Morang, Sunsari, Kathmandu, and Lalitpur. Receptivity to the program has been high, not only among the estimated 600 participants but also among other members of the wider community, Who encouraged junior youth to join the program.

Baha’f—inspired organizations that work with older youth have discovered that junior youth programs can be a natural extension of their activities. In Guyana, the Varqa Foundation has incorporated a junior youth component into its larger effort, entitled Youth Can Move the World (YCMTW). The YCMTW program provides youth with instruction that strengthens their identity as agents of personal and community transformation. After receiving training that prepares them as YCMTW facilitators, they return to their home communities and initiate youth activities with their peers and with junior youth groups. In Kosovo, a Baha’f—inspired social and economic develop— ment project, Global Perspective Development Centre (GPDC), has been working with youth for several years. In 2005, a junior youth program was integrated into the existing Global Motion project of GPDC, which uses the arts as a tool for personal and social transforma- tion. Of the 100 or so participants in the project, a number of key individuals were chosen to work further with other groups.

In Florida, USA, the annual Project Badi summer program offers reading circles to improve the literacy skills of young people. The project has been carried out in four predominantly African-American and Caribbean neighborhoods in the Broward, Tampa, and Palm Beach areas. Some 40 young Baha’is carried out daily, two-hour-long reading circles for dozens of “at—risk” junior youth in neighborhoods. The reading circles have served as a launch pad for local Bahé’r’s to offer ongoing character development classes to children and junior youth. Families of the reading circle students are also engaged in monthly gatherings which incorporate presentations prepared by the junior youth. Some parents have shown an interest in a Spiritual Parenting course. A columnist from the 721mpcz Tribune wrote, on 23 July 2005, that the program gave “hope in a world that seems so fractured and self-centered.”

The new government syllabus for religious and moral education in Botswana, aimed at the senior primary level, now includes the

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0le Madam,

a pupi/fiom a Sydney primary 56/7001, reads a prayer at the service held in t/ae House afbVom/vip on Universal

Children} Day.

Bahé’f Faith as one of the religions that can be taught. The syllabus adopts a theme—based approach by which teachers can select differ- ent religions to illustrate the themes. Bahé’i’s in Lusaka, Zambia, sponsored an essay competition for young people on the theme, “The role of family in bringing peace.” The entrants from a number of secondary schools explored themes of “gender inequality” and “decline in moral leadership” in their essays.

Some 6,000 primary school children in Australia are attending Bahé’l’ classes in more than 300 state—run schools. Offered to provide religious instruction to children from the Bahé’i’ community, the classes are also attracting many other children. In April 2005, Bahé’t’s launched monthly workshops in Brisbane designed to create a new generation of peacemakers. The junior youth who attend develop insights and skills to realize their role in the establishment of peace in the world. On 8 December 2005, some 800 people attended a devotional service held in the Bahé’l’ House ofWorship in Sydney, Australia, to celebrate Universal Children’s Day. An unaccompanied Choir—with members aged between 5 and 12 years old—provided the music while other children read from the world’s religious scriptures. After the service, a variety of activities were offered including

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performances by dance and music groups, face painting, storytelling, and a display of children’s art on the theme of the environment, and respect for people of different races, cultures, and religions.

Advancement of women

Speaking in Chicago in 1912, ‘Abdu’l—Baha’t told the Federation of Women’s Clubs, “Until the reality of equality between man and woman is fully established and attained, the highest social develop— ment of mankind is not possible.”3 Activities undertaken around the globe, particularly the widespread education of women and girls in developing countries, demonstrate the Baha’i community’s continued commitment to this ideal.

The Baha’i’ International Community gives priority to pro- moting this fundamental Baha’i principle at the international, diplomatic level. Some 21 Baha’i’s participated in the United Nations’ Commission on the Status OFWomen (CSW) held in New York from 27 February to 10 March 2006. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Commission has become a global tallying point for those concerned about, and dedicated to, the advancement ofwomen. Representatives attended from more than 400 organizations. The two main themes under discussion at this year’s Commission were the “enhanced participation of women in development” and the “equal participa- tion of women and men in decision—making processes at all levels.” Baha’i delegates, from as far afield as Brazil, Japan, Switzerland, and Togo, addressed the themes in various ways. One of them, Ms. Zarin Hainsworth from the United Kingdom, facilitated three NGO workshops during the Commission: the first explored positive values learned from inﬂuential women; a second looked at how issues of international trade affect women; and the third addressed the plight of widows. On 28 February, the Baha’i International Community hosted a luncheon at its New York offices for South Africa’s First Lady, Mrs. Zanele Mbeki, who spoke about her new program—South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID).

Baha’l’s in New Delhi participated in a two—day consultation to discuss the declining male—female ratio. The meeting at the India Habitat Centre brought together policy makers, members of inter— national and religious organizations, as well as representatives of civil

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Some 21 Ba/m’ ’z’sfiom 10 countries participate in the 2006 United Nations’

Commission 0n the Status 0fVV0mm (CSW), an annual meeting on women’s issues.

society. Concern was expressed at the ongoing decline in the ratio ofwomen to men, which dropped from 945 women to every 1,000 men in 1990, to 927 to every 1,000 in the year 2001. Sex selection is common in Indian families that have more than two children where, if the first child is a female and the next child is desired to be male, the female fetus is terminated. Participants discussed the need for a more comprehensive framework to deal with the problem, including addressing legal issues, reviewing policy, and providing a blueprint for future planning.

A production entitled For the Love omece was organized by the Baha’i Office for the Advancement of Women in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in May 2005. Six young singers from the Bahé’l' Unity School and Junior Youth Empowerment Program performed in front of a full house in a presentation about peace and gender equality. Multimedia programs presented perspectives on Malaysia’s economy, security, and health in relation to the rest of the world, and the message of the oneness of humanity and the beauty of diversity. The audience included many officials from the National Council of Women’s Organizations, members of NGOS, interfaith representatives,

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and the general public. Australia’s Baha’i community made a submis— sion to the Inquiry into Balancing Work and Family by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services. The submission recognized that balancing work and family responsibilities is an increasing challenge for many families and suggested that a wide range of measures are needed to assist families to fully meet this challenge. The Australian Baha’i community is also represented on a working group for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW).

More than 600 people attended a Baha’i—organized film festival in Australia in October 2005 which had “Woman” as its theme. Entries to the Harmony Film Festival in Sydney were submitted from 25 filmmakers of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, and from countries including Australia, Japan, Russia, Spain, and the United States. A film from a child’s perspective about the equality of the sexes won the Best Film award. The Australian—rnade movie 77).? Arm, by Los Angeles—based filmmaker Bita Haidarian, tells the story of an eight—year—old girl whose father refuses to let her swap her household Chores with her brother’s because lawn mowing is “for boys.” The girl takes matters into her own hands and ends up with a humorous and telling result. The judges, from the film industry, included documentary filmmakers Peter Butt and Mitzi Goldman, movie director Mojgan Khadem, film and television journalist Sandy George, and actor Nick Tate. Shideh Faramand’s six-minute comedy In Time won both the Audience Choice and Achievement awards. The film takes a humorous look at the social pressures on single women to get married and start a family. The award for the Most Original Concept went to Anis Fanaeian for Remember Tomorrow, 21 film about a professional woman who chooses motherhood over a successful career.

Ms. Frangoise Barsacq, the president of France’s Baha’i Associa- tion ofWomen (ABF), was elected secretary—gcneral of the National Council of French Women during its general assembly in September 2005. Ms. Barsacq works with members of the Executive Committee of the Council, alongside the vice—president of the French Parliament. Her appointment has increased the scope of ABF to work with all French associations.

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Efforts to protect immigrant women and girls from violence were boosted by a $300,000 grant from the United States government. The Baha’i—inspired Tahirih Justice Center, based in Washington, DC, was the recipient of an Edward Byrne Grant, as part of the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations Bill signed into law by President George W Bush. Grant proceeds are spread over a number of years and will be used to “strategically increase Tahirih’s institutional capacity to enable it to respond to a 400 percent increase in demand for its services,” said executive director Layli Miller-Muro. The office, which receives up to 50 calls a day for help, serves immigrant women and their families through legal representation, social service referrals, and access to its network of pro bono attorneys and physicians. The center’s annual fundraising benefit, held on 27 September 2005, was attended by more than 400 guests and supporters, including Queen Noor of Jordan, who is renowned for her global efforts on behalf ofwomen and children. The benefit, which included the recital of prayers from the Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions, concluded with a Baha’i prayer for unity.

Involvement in the life of society

As an international nongovernmental organization, the Baha’i International Community involves itself in wide-ranging activities to advance the welfare of society, including consultative work with the United Nations, participation in dialogues with leaders of thought, and interactions with the wider public. Baha’i communities at the na- tional and local levels are often very effective at mobilizing resources in response to extraordinary circumstances, as was the case this year in the American Bahé’i’s’ contribution to assisting those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Throughout the world, countless individual Bahé’i’s also dedicate themselves to the service of society, many of them excelling in their professional and volunteer activities.

In August and September 2005, Baha’fs in the USA were mobilized into extraordinary action in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina along much of the north—central Gulf Coast of the country, most notably in New Orleans and coastal Mississippi. The National Spiritual Assembly was quick to allocate money from the

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Baha’i National Humanitarian Fund to meet the needs of evacuees of all faith communities. The Assembly’s Office of Development established links with local Bahé’l’s and other partners to determine how the community’s resources could be placed to greatest advantage. At the local level, Bahé’l’s joined in relief efforts, many taking into their homes those who had lost much of their property. Local Spiri— tual Assemblies provided volunteers and material assistance, some organizing the delivery of truckloads of supplies to the disaster area, others establishing communications centers or informational Web sites. In Houston, as many as 200 Baha’t’fs joined volunteers trained by the Second Baptist Church, inﬂating air mattresses, setting up showers and health facilities, sorting food, clothing and bedding, and welcoming exhausted evacuees on their arrival. Some 20 Bahé’l’s from Harris and Galveston counties focused their care on children. With the approval of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and guidance from Baha’i institutions, the Baha’is offered crafts, coopera- tive games, music, and supervision in a designated play space.

The annual Baha’i Conference on Social and Economic Develop— ment for the Americas, held in Orlando, Florida, 15—18 December 2005, was told that the Bahé’r’s were able to respond quickly and efficiently to Hurricane Katrina because of the decentralized structure of Baha’i communities, and the Faith’s emphasis on individual initiative. Mr. William Davis, Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahé’is of the United States, told the conference, “The Bahé’is responded in a remarkable way. No one asked, ‘how many of us are we?’ and ‘can we can do this?’ They simply said, ‘this is a need, we must do it, that’s who we are as Bahé’is, we respond to the human needs.”3

Around the world, Baha’i communities gathered to pray for the Victims and survivors of the hurricane. In Malaysia, a prayer session united people of various faiths. Ms. June Loh, secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia, said that the sympathy and aid that went to New Orleans from across the world showed humanity’s ability to come together in moments of crisis.

In July 2005, the devastating ﬂoods in Maharashtra state, India, led students of a Baha’i educational establishment in Satara—the Mona SChool—to assist people in afﬂicted villages. Pupils surveyed the area and identified families that needed immediate help. Kits

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containing basic household items were distributed to 110 families in eight villages. They also helped two schools in ﬂood—affected areas by raising money to replace school uniforms and books. Students also prayed with people in the affected areas for their successful recovery from the difficulties caused by the ﬂooding.

School children in the Pacific nation of Kiribati were the recipi— ents ofbooks donated by Australian Baha’is. The Baha’i communities of Logan City and Redlands, in conjunction with community groups in South East Queensland, collected old and new books to be do- nated to Kiribati’s schools, which are chronically underresourced.

The Baha’f—inspired Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute in London, Ontario, Canada, hosted a presentation on helping ex- combatant children from Colombia reintegrate into civilian life. The Colombian Ambassador to Canada, Jorge Visbal Martelo, was present at the event as was the staff of the International Organization for Migration, based in Colombia. A 17 year old told the audience of her experience as an armed combatant in Colombia, when she became involved with an illegal guerilla group at the age of 12. “Lack of family support led me to join an armed group,” she said, “I joined willingly and thought I was fighting for our country to obtain peace. I later realized I had given up my youth for a cause I no longer could support.”

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United Kingdom hosted a reception in London in January 2006 for Canadian senator General Rome’o Dallaire, the force commander of the United Nations mission to Rwanda, who exposed humanity’s failure to stop the genocide in that country. General Dallaire shared many of his painful experiences in Rwanda with members of the Assembly and their guests, and candidly expressed his Views about the essential oneness of humanity and the need to develop new attitudes to stave off conﬂict and contention in the world. The practical application of Baha’i principles in post—conﬂict societies was further explored in a conference in November 2005 of the Baha’i International Politics and Law Special Interest Group in Cambridge, England, entitled “Countering evil through law and policy.” The presentations, given at the Lauterpacht Research Centre for International Law, ranged from the religious and theoretical analysis of the problem of evil, to discussions of legal and political responses on how to counter war

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1?: . ‘2

Some graduates of the advanced computer clay: ofiE’rea' 5y 2%? Ba/m' ’1’ community 0ft/Je Gambia.

or genocide. The scrutiny of evil led to reﬂection on issues such as human rights abuse, terrorism, and hatred.

In Banjul, the Gambia, 56 students received graduation certificates on completing classes to gain computer skills, offered free of charge by the Baha’l’s. Since 1998, more than 900 students have benefited from the classes, which are designed to help those Who cannot otherwise obtain computer skills to get a job. Students have ranged from teenagers to the middle—aged, and include both men and women. The courses, offered at basic and advanced levels, usually involve two sessions of two hours per week for three months and are held in a specially designed room in the new national Baha’l’ center. The teachers are Gambian Baha’is and youth volunteers from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Participants at a European conference on law, held in the Neth— erlands in December 2005, heard how the challenges that terrorism throws at governments can only be countered by global governance deeply grounded in unity. The Baha’i keynote speaker, Dr. Wendi Momen, told the audience of law professionals that the challenges to

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the law terrorism poses are not only in the area of balancing safety with human liberty, but also in the creation of new laws to fit a new system ofgovernance that is better adapted to the present globalized world. The conference attracted participants from seven countries.

In December 2005, a Bahé’i’ from Alberta, Canada, received one of France’s most prestigious awards. Pierre-Yves Mocquais, professor and former dean of humanities at the University of Calgary, was named Chevalier dans l’Ordte des Palmes Académiques in recogni— tion of his extensive contribution to the study of FrenCh-Canadian literature and culture. Dr. Mocquais’s work examines the identity and culture of Ftancophones as a minority group and, most recently, of French immigrants who settled in Saskatchewan early in the twentieth century without having spent time in Quebec.

In Germany, a doctor who developed psychotherapeutic tech— niques based on the Bahé’i’ teachings was presented with the Cross of Merit ribbon of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Dr. Nossrat Peseschkian was honored on 23 January 2006 “in recognition for extraordinary services to the nation and its people.” He received the award in the office of the prime minister of the state of Hesse. Dr. Peseschkian founded the German Society for Positive Psychotherapy and the Wiesbaden Further Education Circle for Psycho— and Family—Therapy. His methods involve using stories and innovative transcultural methods, through which the patient is able to see himself and his personal problems in a holistic context.

The theme of “Japanese Traditions and Moral Education” was explored at a conference hosted by the Association of Bahai’i’ Studies Japan in Yokohama, from 16 to 18 September 2005. Participants consulted upon a wide range of historical topics and modern issues. A member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahé’i’s ofJapan, Shannon Higgins, reﬂected on the current moral crisis in Japanese education and the experiences of children who struggle to find meaning and identity amidst disconnected social settings, bullying, classroom breakdown, and a disintegrated curriculum devoid of vi- sion and spiritual direction.

The Japanese Ambassador to the United States told a gathering at Green Acre Bahé’i’ School in Eliot, Maine, that he had “deep admiration” for the effort Bahé’i's have made in “attending to world peace and human harmony.” Taking the theme of “Peace in the 21st

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Century,” the Honorable Ryozo Kato Spoke on 4 September 2005 about Japan’s growing role in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts around the world. His speech capped off a week—long celebration of the role played 100 years ago by Green Acre’s founder, promi- nent American Bahé’r’ Sarah Farmer, in promoting activities that supported negotiations that ended the Russo—Japanese War.

Diplomats, academics, and media representatives were among the prominent people at the official opening of the national Bahé’i’ center in Warsaw, Poland on 21 March 2006. Guest speaker Mr. Jacek Santorski, a business psychologist, spoke about building bridges between world religions by recognizing their essential one— ness. The guests included embassy staff, professors of ethics and religious studies, publishers, and journalists from the press and radio.

The Austrian Bahé’i’ community celebrated the 50th anniversary of their national center, the Bahé’f-Haus in Vienna, in November 2005. Religious and government officials were among the numerous dignitaries who joined the first day of celebrations. The three—day event climaxed with a gathering in Vienna of some 120 Bahé’l’s from around Austria.

An elegant Bahé’i’ center in Edinburgh, Scotland, was purchased in May 2005 after a united effort by the local and national Bahai’i’ communities. The center is in the historic Georgian New Town area of the city, within a building conservation zone and close to Edinburgh’s central business and shopping district. The four—story building has many spacious rooms suitable for the reception of distinguished visitors and for meetings of the Bahé’i’ Council for Scotland, the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahé’r’s of Edinburgh, and the Bahé’l’ community in general.

Representatives of the Scottish Bahé’r’ community were invited to address Scotland’s Parliament as part of its weekly proceeding that allows people from different faiths to share their perspectives on the challenges facing the country. It was the first time an invitation had come to the Bahé’r’s from a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). Carrie Varjavandi, a Bahé’i’ from Dundee, addressed the body on 18 January 2006. Ms. Varjavandi invited Parliament members to consider the current world situation: “The world today faces apparently intractable problems, which governments and peoples are

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T176 presiding oﬂia’r oft/Je Scottixb Parliament, the Right Honorable George Reid MSP, [efi listen: to Carrie ijawmdi of t/ae Scottish Ba/m' ’1' community give her “Time for Reﬂection” address on 18 january 2006.

striving courageously to solve: Climate change, poverty, and religious fanaticism, to name but a few,” she said. She then suggested that the spiritual teachings of Bahé’u’lléh not only identified disunity as the underlying cause of these problems, but also offered a solution. Commenting on the address, Presiding Officer George Reid MSP made a direct connection between the fundamental principles of the Bahé’l’ Faith and the words of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, saying, “the Bahé’l’ belief in the unity of mankind matches our commitment to build an inclusive society in Scotland.”

Two Bahé’l’s joined representatives of religions, leaders of thought and politics at the Silver Jubilee celebration of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix 0f the Netherlands. The event took place at the cathedral in Utrecht on I December 2005. The program, broadcast live on television, included speeches, music, cultural dances, and excerpts from the writings of various religions and philosophies.

On 6 December 2005, a former British parliamentarian, Sir Sydney Chapman, received the inaugural Blomfield Award for Human Rights at a ceremony organized by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahé’l’s of the United Kingdom and the Bahé’l’s 0f

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the London borough of Barnet. The Blomfield Award is named after Sara Louisa, Lady Blomfield, a prominent early British Baha’i and philanthropist. It is presented to individuals in British public life who have offered consistent and exceptional support towards the defense of Bahé’i’s in countries where they are persecuted for their religious faith, notably in Iran. Sir Sydney—who retired in 2005 after 26 years as Member of Parliament for Barnet—was honored for his defense of the human rights of the Baha’is by raising parliamentary questions and motions and speaking in debates. Sir Sydney said he attached great importance to the struggle for human rights and to efforts to reduce the damage to the earth’s natural environment.

The challenge of establishing unity in diversity was among the topics explored at a conference held in Dublin, Ireland, to examine the impact of the Baha’i teachings on a wide range of con- temporary issues. Addressing the conference, held 2—3 July 2005, Dr. Iarfhlaith Watson, a lecturer in sociology at University College, Dublin, said sociologists have been looking at this issue since their discipline began. “As humanity experiences its collective coming of age, the challenge is to find a way of holding people together,” said Dr. Watson, “not so tightly that pathological consequences ensue nor too loosely that they become lost.” He concluded that allegiance to a higher cause—such as one common faith—Could provide people with a shared value system that allows order to be maintained, but provides the freedom for diversity to be protected and ﬂourish.

The First Lady of Fiji, Leba Qarase, Visited the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi, India, on 10 October 2005. A prayer service, held specially for the occasion, included chants in both Hindi and English of prayers from the Baha’i, Christian, and Hindu scriptures. Mrs. Qarase then Visited the Information Center, where she viewed panels on Baha’i history and those displaying socioeconomic devel— opment projects. In the visitors’ book, Mrs. Qarase wrote: “I already feel at peace. Glory be to God! It is a great experience going through the temple. May God Almighty bless the Baha’i Faith!”

Six hundred children from 60 countries gathered in Aichi, Japan, for the 2005 Children’s World Summit for the Environment. Four Baha’i’ children from the United States, ranging in age from 10 to 14 years old, were selected as part of a small children’s delegation for the Summit, held 26 to 29 July. His Imperial Highness Prince

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Akishino ofjapan was the summit’s honorary president. The children enjoyed discussions about water conservation and consumption, and its environmental and social implications.

In Malaysia, the National Colloquium on Science, Religion, and Development attracted 120 participants, representing universities, colleges, interfaith groups, NGOS, and corporate organizations from Cambodia, India, Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore, and the United States. The event was the culmination of a series of five discourses 0n the subject held in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching. Several workshop sessions on good governance, education, science and technology, and business and economics helped stimulate interesting discussions. There was a unanimous call at the end of the event for such dialogues to be held on a regular basis to encourage further exchange of ideas on the subject.

The Baha’l’s of Marquette, Michigan, USA, were among the participants of the second annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep, which took place in April 2006. The effort collected more than 300 tons of “e-wasten—electronic equipment that is not easily recycled, includ— ing television sets, computers, and VCRs—ftom various sites across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a sparsely populated region north of Lake Michigan. More than 350 volunteers from some 120 faith communities participated in the project. Dr. Rodney Clarken, a Baha’i and one of the original signers of the Earth Keeper Covenant, said that such projects can help “break down the artificial barriers we have constructed between religions, nations, cultures, and the world in which we live. May these efforts reinforce a hundredfold our work toward creating a world in which all people can live in peace and prosperity.”

Presentations on HIV/AIDS, nutrition, the impact of trauma and injustice on moral development, and racial disparities in medical research were among numerous themes discussed at the 29th Annual Conference of North America’s Association for Baha’i Studies held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from 11 to 14 September 2005. Almost I40 people made individual or team contributions on the theme of the conference, “Science, Religion and Social Transformation.” The role of inspiration in scientific endeavors was explored by Professor Redwan Moqbel from Edmonton, Canada. Dr. Fataneh

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Pointing to a united fin‘ure, dancers in t/ae Singaporean Babzi’z’ junioryout/J dance troupe perfirm at

an event for yout/o organized [7}! flag VVm‘ld Bank.

Vargha—Khadem from London, England, reviewed the continued public debate over religion and science in society, and expanded on the implications of current research in her own discipline of cogni- tive neuroscience.

Race unity

The worldwide Bahe’t’i’ community is among the most diverse bodies of people on earth. This diversity extends to the local and national levels, as Bahé’i’ communities comprise people from a wide variety of religious and racial backgrounds, ages, professions, and educational levels. However, fat from being a source of conﬂict or contention, Bahé’i’s believe that such diversity is a cause of unity. “The garden which is pleasing to the eye and which makes the heart glad, is the

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garden in which are growing side by side ﬂowers of every hue, form and perfume, and the joyous contrast of colour is what makes for Charm and beauty,” observed ‘Abdu’l-Baha. “Thus should it be among the children of men! The diversity in the human family should be the cause oflove and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.”4

In Singapore, Baha’i junior youth from European, Chinese, Indian, and Persian backgrounds entertained more than 500 young people at an event at the AngIo—Chinese Junior College on I June 2005, organized by the World Bank. The event aimed to increase the awareness of development issues among young Singaporeans and to inspire them to volunteer to assist local nongovernmental organizations. The young Bahé’r’s performed dances portraying the need for unity among the peoples of the world and the Vital necessity to eliminate prejudice of all kinds.

In the Republic of Ireland, the Bahé’r’s 0f Cork hosted a mul- ticultural celebration as their contribution to the city’s tenure as European Capital of Culture. Around 200 people from 16 different countries attended the event on 30 April 2005, which included contributions from China, the Czech Republic, France, Mexico, and Poland. A Dublin—based Baha’i choir traveled to Cork to perform at the event. “It was a tangible evidence of unity in diversity with so many people from different countries and cultures coming together and having good fun,” said one of the organizers, Ms. Sabina Nagle.

In Alaska, the Baha’i intertribal group Drums of Light opened the statewide Head Start conference. Head Start provides education, health, nutrition, and parent—involvement services to Children from low-income families. The creative devotional program featured the words of Baha’u’llah in a harmonious chorus ofvoices accompanied by a handheld drum. Performers wore traditional regalia representing Athabascan, Inupiaq, Tlingit, and Tsimshian tribal groups, and verses in the songs were offered in native languages.

The second New Zealand Diversity Forum, on the theme “The Challenges of Cultural Diversity,” was held at Te Papa on 23 August 2005. The event was attended by more than 400 people from around the country. The forum’s sessions considered issues and actions

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concerning community dialogue, refugee and migrant settlement programs, public policy, and cultural diversity in schools. The further development of a national interfaith network was also supported with leaders from seven faiths present, emphasizing the importance of interfaith cooperation and dialogue. Meanwhile, Dr. Jeanne Gazel, a race relations specialist from Michigan State University in the United States, visited New Zealand in October 2005, as a guest of the national Baha’i community. During her stay, she presented the fifth annual Margaret Stevenson Memorial Lecture and visited cities in the North and South Islands. Dr. Gazel’s talk, “Truth, Justice and Reconciliation: Achieving Unity through Diversity,” highlighted the work of the Multi—Racial Unity Living Experience (MRULE) program that she cofounded in 1996 in response to a request from university officials to help resolve the problem of increasing social tension and segregation on campus.

A high school student won the 2005 Race Unity Speech Award, organized by the New Zealand Baha’l’ community, by calling for the protection of diversity. The talk by 17—year-old Georgina Rood, which was broadcast on New Zealand’s national radio, celebrated the varied cultural and racial characteristics that “make humanity more interesting.” “Celebrating those differences as a force for unity and common good—rather than using them as a source of division—is the challenge we face, and have always faced,” said Ms. Rood, a student at Sacred Heart College in Wellington. “Our generation can be the turning point—we have opportunities that our parents never had,” she added. The topic of the speeches by the six finalists was a famous quotation from Baha’u’llah: “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” The competition, which is open to all students in the last three years of high school in New Zealand, attracted IOO entrants from 10 regions.

Foods from many cultures, dancing, music, face painting, and a wide variety of children’s activities were the main attractions at an international dinner held in June 2005 in South Australia. More than 200 people from the Mount Gambier area attended. Cultural symbols of some of the cultures represented at the dinner were dis- played. Costumes, everyday items ofhospitality, and colorful regional maps all illustrated the area’s rich diversity.

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Interfaith

The essential unity of religions is one of the fundamental principles of the Baha’i Faith. Baha’is believe that “all the great religions of the world are divine in origin, that their basic principles are in complete harmony, that their aims and purposes are one and the same” and that they “represent successive stages in the spiritual evolution of human society.”5 Baha’is worldwide are engaged in community interfaith activities and seek to foster friendship and understanding among members of different religions.

Representatives of nine religious communities came together in a united forum to offer prayers on the International Day of Peace at a gathering organized by the Baha’i community ofTanzania. “This is an historic day,” said keynote speaker United Nations representa— tive Eshila Maravanyika, who expressed her delight at witnessing the various religious denominations coming together in a united forum to offer prayers for peace on 21 September 2005. Baha’i’ spokesperson Mitta Deliri Sabet said that “the purpose of the gathering was to provide a common ground where various religious organizations can come together and pray for a common goal—peace.”

A panel ofexperts stressed the importance of upholding the tight to freedom of religion and belief at a symposium organized by the Baha’i International Community in New York on 25 October 2005. Ms. Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha’i Interna— tional Community to the United Nations, chaired the symposium entitled “Freedom to Believe: Upholding the Standard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” The event was organized to stimulate discussion and thinking about the implementation and protection of the right to freedom of religion and belief. “Perhaps now more than ever in our lifetimes, religious ideas and religious actors are asserting themselves at all levels ofsociety,” Ms. Dugal said. “Against the backdrop of accelerating processes of globalization, the search for meaning, tootedness, and community is manifesting itself in diverse expressions ofworship and belief.” Among the conclusions reached by the panel was a call for governments to tackle increased religious intolerance by promoting discussion both within and between religious groups, and by ensuring that women and political leaders are involved in the talks. The panel included Piet de Klerk, Netherlands Ambassador at Large for Human Rights; Asma Jahangir,

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Profissor Subez'l Bushrui speaks at an intEIfilit/J seminar on “Faith and Social Responsibility. ”

the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief; and Felice Gaer, Director of the Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights.

Professor Suheil Bushrui, who was the holder of the Baha’i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland until December 2005, participated in a seminar on “Faith and Social Responsibility” with His Royal Highness the Prince ofWales on 3 November 2005. Held at Georgetown University, the seminar brought together 40 senior religious leaders and scholars from various faiths. The purpose of the event was for faith leaders to discuss best practices for faith-based practical initiatives on employment, education, and community regeneration. The seminar featured a round-table discussion in the presence of the Prince, who was Visiting the United States. Within the framework of unity in diversity, Professor Bushrui described religions as different spiritual paths representing an outward expres- sion of underlying unity. He also emphasized that faith is more than just belief; it also entails a way oflife that includes social responsi- bility and action in the world. Professor Bushrui further noted that believers of all faiths have a duty to lay aside theology and ideology in favor of developing a unity of vision and a spirit of cooperation.

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h " C/7iefMatange (secondﬂom right) and other members ofan African

traditional religion during prayers at the International Day of Peace gathering organized by the Ba/M’ ’1’ community of 722712471122.

Only in this way can religion and faith serve the best interests of humanity as a whole. Professor Bushrui retired from his position as holder of the Bahé’i’ Chair for World Peace on 31 December 2005. John Grayzei, an international development specialist, is the current holder of the Chair.

Senior government officials and representatives of diverse reli— gious groups in Cuba gathered with Bahé’i’s for an interfaith event in the newly reconstructed Bahé’l’ center in central Havana on 23 May 2005. The secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Havana, Ernesto Santirso, welcomed the guests, saying that the gatherings purpose was to open the center to the other religious communities. Caridad Diego Bello, the chief of religious affairs in the Cuban gov- ernment, and two other officials from her office, joined Bahé’i’s and representatives from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and African Yoruba religious communities at the gathering. Ms. Diego expressed her gratitude to the Bahé’i’ community of Cuba for bringing together the diverse group, and then spoke about interfaith harmony and the major social principles of the Bahé’i’ Faith. “These are principles

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that even I as a nonfollower of any religion would agree with,” said Ms. Diego, who is a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

In Canada, a crowd of almost 200 gathered at Parc de la Paix in the Saint-Laurent district of Montreal, Quebec, to mark the Interna— tional Day of Peace. The deputy mayor of Montreal, Alain de Sousa, acknowledged the continuous support of the Baha’i community to celebrate this day since its inception by the United Nations in 1982. Representatives from various religious organizations attended the event.

In Australia, an interfaith devotional meeting titled “Prayers for Peace” was hosted by the Baha’i community of Palmerston, Northern Territory, on 21 September 2005, also to celebrate the International Day of Peace. There were prayers from all of the major faiths, as well as representation from the Larrakia nation, the Indonesian Consulate, and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA). Fitting with the evening’s theme, there was also a mini-exhibition of peace—themed artworks. This event coincided with the launch of the Palmerston City Interfaith Network, an advocacy group composed of representatives of local multicultural and faith organizations, whose main objective is to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding, and address issues of racism and religious intolerance.

A meeting on 10 March 2006 demonstrated increasing inter— est in interfaith affairs in Norway. The gathering brought together government officials with members of the Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities in Norway. The aim of the Council, established in 1996, is to work towards equality and promote mutual understanding and respect between different religious and life stances. Norway’s Department of Foreign Affairs called the meeting with the Minister of Church and Culture and the newly established Department of Integration.

From 21 to 23 October 2005, six Baha’i representatives from France took part in a conference about interfaith education, hosted by the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC). The confer— ence, focusing on the promotion of ethical education, was organized in collaboration with the Baha’I International Community’s Office of Public Information in Paris. Six religions were represented at the conference, with the goal of exchanging experiences and ideas. The

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participants comprised a range of children, youth, and adults. On Saturday 22 October, more than 40 participants attended an eve— ning reception, hosted at the national Baha’i center and featuring performances by the Diversity Dance Workshop.

Young members of the Baha’i community in Singapore supported a national interfaith project aimed at bringing Singaporeans of all races and religions together. Some 40 youth gathered at Singapore’s Baha’i center on 15 April 2006 to fold paper lotuses as part of the Project Million Lotus 2006, which was sponsored by the Singapore Buddhist Federation. The purpose was to encourage young people of all races and religions to make a million paper lotuses as symbols of purity and harmony. In addition to the 15 April event, Baha’i study circles in the city also folded lotuses for the project. The project has received support from Singapore’s President S.R. Nathan. The lotuses were displayed at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza as the highlight of the “Growing Compassion, Harvesting Harmony” Singapore celebration of the Vesak Festival.

Baha’i representatives joined more than 50 religious and spiritual leaders from 18 countries in an International Interfaith Dialogue on the theme “The Inner Voice of Peace,” hosted by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University at New Delhi and Mount Abu from 12 to 15 October 2005. Participants shared their vision, insights, and experiences on their efforts to create societies of peace and dig— nity. The President of India, Dr. A_PJ. Abdul Kalam, initiated the dialogue inviting constructive recommendations from the group on promoting a culture of peace.

World Religion Day, initiated in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is 0f the United States, has now been adopted by many countries and communities around the world. In France, an intercultural and interfaith event with music and prayers was organized at the Baha’i center in Nice for World Religion Day. Representatives attended from the five principal religions 0n the Céte d’Azur. Prayers from various faiths, including selections from the Baha’i writings, were recited. California’s fourth annual World Religion Day was held on 16 January 2006. A procession of faiths included children carrying each faith’s holy book and reverently placing it on a table. Bahé’r’s in South Bend, Indiana, USA, trans- formed their regular weekly devotional gathering at the Baha’i center into a World Religion Day celebration. Readings from the

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Drummers send our energy and inspiration during a Hm/a Harbor devotional meeting at t/oe New Yor/e 311/74 ’1’ Center.

major world religions emphasized the “three onenesses” of God, of humanity, and of religion. In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the Bahé’f communities ofsouthern Maine and coastal New Hampshire sponsored a combined Martin Luther King Jr. Day and World Reli- gion Day celebration. Presentations by youth included singing and drumming. More than 200 people attended an interfaith concert spearheaded by a Bahé’i in Fostoria, Ohio, that benefited a local nonprofit organization and raised awareness of the area’s religious traditions. Local civic and religious leaders praised the event for its warm spirit and celebration of diversity.

The arts

Bahai’l’s throughout the world make extensive use of the arts to enrich community life, enhance activities and events, and convey the Faith’s message to audiences. From the use of role playing in study circles to traveling youth performance troupes, the arts offer a powerful means to combine the teachings of Bahé’u’lléh with an appreciation of cultural diversity. Additionally, a number of individual Bahé’l’s working in the arts have, in the past year, excelled in their fields and been lauded for their contributions to society and culture. The

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world—renowned Voices of Baha choir carried out its first major Caribbean tour in June and July 2005. The tour included concerts in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Venezu— ela, and ended in Coral Springs, Florida, where an audience of 600 enjoyed its final performance. The choir, which has performed at fund—taising concerts for numerous charitable organizations includ- ing UNESCO and UNICEF, contributed to local charities throughout the tour, including a fund in Jamaica set up to assist the families of policemen slain in the line of duty. The choir, which has now performed in more than 30 countries, includes a variety of styles of choral music in its repertoire, including African—American gospel, folk, and western classical. On its Caribbean tour, the choir included songs by Carlos Santana (performed by Grammy Awatd-winning Baha’i musician KC. Porter), calypso—style numbers composed and performed by the London—based singer and steel drummer Kiskadee, gospel songs, jazz, and a barbershop quartet.

In December 2005, two Baha’i musicians received nomina- tions in the prestigious Grammy Awards, the American recording industry’s most coveted honor. Singet—songwriter Red Grammet received a nomination in the Musical Album for Children category for his CD, BeBop Your Best. Jazz singer Tierney Sutton received a nomination in the Jazz Vocal Album category for [371 With t/ae Band. Mt. Gtammer said the nomination was personally significant because “it reﬂects recognition of excellence by the music industry . . . It isn’t a nomination by your listeners, it is a nomination by your colleagues.” Ms. Sutton said she was deeply gratified to be nomi- nated for the award: “The way we arrange our music is based on the principle of consultation, and our band is very much run on Baha’i principles. So there is very much a sense with everybody in the band that what we do is essentially a spiritual thing.” Earlier, in June 2005, Ms. Sutton won fazzWeek’s Vocalist of the Year award.

A major theatrical production telling the story of Tahirih, the nineteenth—centuty Persian poetess and heroine of early Baha’i his- tory enthralled audiences during a five—week run in Athens, Greece in the early summer of 2005. The play, entitled Pure, by British writer Annabel Knight, was performed by Shirin Youssefian—Maanian in a I40—seat tented arena at the prestigious Athinais Cultural Centre. The production was sponsored by five major companies including Greece’s main dairy producer and a famous supermarket Chain. The

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Tierney Sutton and Red Grammar, two Ba/m’ ’z’ musicians nominatedfor

2006 Grammy Awards.

executive producer, as well as the lighting designer, of the open- ing and closing ceremonies of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games contributed their skills to the production. Numerous prominent people including many well—known politicians, actors, directors, and ambassadors attended performances. The play was featured on Athens International Radio and the BBC World Service, leading to the final two weeks of the run being completely sold out.

Some 2,000 people saw another historical figure from Bahé’l’ history come to life on the stage in a theatrical tour of Singapore and Malaysia during the summer of 2005. Australian actor Phillip Hinton performed Portals to Freedom in which he played Howard Colby Ives, a former Unitarian minister who encountered ‘Abdu’l-Bahé on His 1912 journey to the United States and became a devoted follower and chronicler of His visit. Mr. Hinton played to two packed houses in Singapore’s Actor’s Den studio theater. He also held five workshops in collaboration with his wife, Ann, and professional storyteller Donna Jacobs Sife. Groups ofaround 25 participants were taken on a journey of discovery to assist them in becoming effective storytellers. In Malaysia, performances of Portal: to Freedom were held in Johur Batu, Malacca, Ipoh, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur, where four per-

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formances and two workshops were held in six days. Meanwhile, 48 Baha’is from around Malaysia took part in a training session in Balakong in May 2005, covering fresh approaches to storytelling, creative dramatics, and arts and crafts.

The annual “Somerfest” at the European Baha’i” House of Worship in Langenhain, Germany on 26 June 2005 attracted some 3,000 Visitors, including a record number of international guests from as far away as Alaska and Samoa. The cultural program included presentations by an Italian choir and a Filipino women’s dance group. A diverse array of music and international foods were also offered.

New York City’s Baha’i center commenced weekly jazz perfor— mances on Tuesday evenings in its John Birks Gillespie Auditorium, dedicated to the late jazz great—and Baha’i—Dizzy Gillespie. Gillespie’s former pianist and musical director, Mike Longo, presents the popular series of concerts which showcase some of the city’s most skilled musicians. Meanwhile, American jazz saxophonist Jay Corre, who has worked with such legends as Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, and Frank Sinatra, toured Portugal in May 2005. In between numerous appearances at Clubs, he shared his approach to music and the Baha’i' teachings with young people at the Lisbon Baha’i center and with university students in the north of the country.

Conrad Lambert, professionally known as Merz, a Baha’i musi- cian based in the west of England, released his second CD, Lovebmrt, to widespread critical acclaim. The Daily R[egmp/J called it “an album of rare musical intelligence, illuminated by intriguing arrangements.” The Guardian newspaper praised it as “eerie and hypnotic, with exquisite melodies.”

An international youth performance troupe, Lights of Unity, enjoyed great success and acclaim as it toured venues throughout Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom. Within a few weeks of its formation and first rehearsals, it performed at an Indian Community Mela Festival in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens to an audience of some 2,000 people. Over several months, further performances to enthusiastic audiences at community centers, schools and youth Clubs resulted in cast members leading discussions and workshops with young people, and media coverage on radio and in newspapers. Among the group’s many significant achievements were a churCh—sponsored performance at a rare Protestant—Catholic sharing event in Moneymore, and the initiation of friendships and

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workshops with junior youth in Short Strand, a small Catholic enclave in the predominantly Protestant eastern part of Belfast.

Some 700 visitors attended an exhibition in Moscow of con— temporary art inspired by one of Baha’u’lléh’s best-loved mystical works, The Seven Valleys, from 18 January to 12 February 2006. The exhibition explored the themes of spiritual search and growth through graphic art, mosaic work, porcelain miniatures, installa— tions, multimedia, paintings, and performances of live music. The exhibition was organized by the Baha’is of Russia’s Office of Public Information, in association with WERLD, a youth art project which aims to assist in the development ofyoung people, utilizing the arts and technology to promote humanitarian and cultural values.

The Seven Valleys was also the inspiration for Wendy and Marty Quinn, veteran stage performers from Lee, New Hampshire, USA. Their production, honed over eight years, combines around 80 percent of Baha’u’llah’s text with song, innovative dance, drum— ming, and beautiful, versatile props such as colorful silk “doors” representing portals through which two lovers enter a valley on their spiritual search. The play toured many states, including Georgia and Tennessee, and then moved on to Quebec, Canada.

A vibrant performance by American Kevin Locke provided a fitting end to the celebration of World Peace Day organized by the Baha’i community in Malaysia. More than 300 people, comprising mostly youth, were dazzled by the 52—year—old Native American folk dancer’s energetic hoop dance performance at the event in Kuala Lumpur. Mr. Locke also showed his musical talent by playing the Lakota tribe’s Eagle song on the indigenous ﬂute.

“Light Upon Light” was the theme of the UK National Baha’i Festival held in Scarborough from 5 t0 7 November 2005. More than 1,500 people attended the numerous presentations, workshops, performances, and art installations. Among the highlights were performances by the Lights of Unity group, the premiere of a new Video documentary about Bahé’u’lléh’s letters to the kings and rulers of His time, a physical theater group made up of Baha’i youth from the west of England enacting episodes from the life of Baha’u’llah, and a mirrored installation space hung with fiber—optic light cables, giving the illusion of chains of light being endlessly reﬂected, as quotations from the Baha’i sacred writings on the theme of light played on a recorded soundtrack.

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Earl Cameron, ﬂom‘, acts in the movie The Interpreter as president ofan

Afiiam country.

Baha’i filmmakers Suzanne Kay and Mark Bamford won a pres— tigious award for their feature-length theatrical film Cape of Good Hope from the Religion Communicators Council. The “Wilbur” award was presented on 1 April 2006 in a ceremony honoring work in the secular media that highlights moral or religious themes. Set in South Africa, Cape 0fGood Hope interweaves a number of story lines, all revolving around a Cape Town animal rescue shelter. It has won numerous other awards around the world, including a jury prize for best film from the Starz Denver Pan African film festival.

Veteran movie actor Earl Cameron—a Baha’i since 1963—received high praise for his role in the political thriller The Interpreter, in which he appeared alongside Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman. Oscar- winning director Sydney Pollack cast Mr. Cameron as Edmund Zuwanie—the unsavory president of a fictional African country—in the story about a United Nations translator, played by Ms. Kidman, who overheats a plot to assassinate Mr. Zuwanie as he addresses the UN General Assembly. 7796 Interpreter was the first film ever to be shot inside the United Nations building in New York. Critics unanimously praised Mr. Cameron’s performance. 7796 Baltimore Sun wrote, “Earl Cameron is magnificent as the slimy old fraud of

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a dictator.” Rolling Stone described Mr. Cameron’s appearance as “subtle and menacing.”

Earl Cameron was also a guest of honor at the popular Baha’i Academy for the Arts, held each summer at Sidcot School near Bristol in the United Kingdom. In August 2005, a record number of almost 300 participants Chose from 18 courses on offer—ranging from Tiny Hands for 3—4 year olds, to numerous junior youth and adult courses, including photography, tribal drumming, ceramics, sculpture, and choral singing. Another special guest this year was the distinguished Canadian architect Mr. Hossein Amanat, who conducted discussion groups with students and practitioners of ar- chitecture, as well as lecturing on his design work at the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, and other projects around the world.

An international Bahé’I—inspired magazine exploring the relation- ship between art and spirituality was launched to widespread acclaim in the winter of 2005. 72261114 Ram’s first issue included features on American photographer Mark Sadan, Canadian painter Garry Berteig, an exploration of the use of music in the training institute process in Suriname, and original poetry and photography.

Media and public information

The deteriorating situation of the Baha’i community in Iran domi— nated media coverage of the Babe“ Faith in the past year. A Reuters news agency report on 19 December 2005, recounting the death of 59—year—old Mr. D_hab1’hu’llah Mahramf in his Yazd prison cell, was widely circulated and taken up by the world’s media. Articles appeared in such publications as 7776 Times aflndia, 7796 Irish Times, and Busqueda in Uruguay. On 23 December, the Hindustan Times reported the United States deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli’s comments that the Bahé’is “are systematically denied the right to assemble, maintain administrative institutions, or worship freely.” Mr. Ereli’s statement was also reported on “Voice ofAmerica,” and in 7776 New York Time: on 24 December. The Sazpan Fiéune in Northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia, published an opinion piece about Mr. Mahrami’s death on 23 December 2005 which concluded, “Religious persecution of many faiths and of many forms continues in many places around the world. By shining a spotlight on such cases, we can let the perpetrators know that the world is watch-

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ing them.” Two articles appeared in the Chicago Pihune. Under the heading “Baha’i faithful honor martyr, sound alarm on Iran” on 8 January 2006, the Trihurze interviewed Baha’is gathered at a memorial meeting for Mr. Mahrami’ held at the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.

The release in March 2006 by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir, ofa letter from Iran’s Supreme Leader calling for the identification and monitoring of Baha’l’s also resulted in significant press coverage. Ms. Jahangir’s concerns were reported in, among other newspapers, El Heraldo of Mexico, The Guardian in the United Kingdom, the Samoa Ohserver, The Express in South Africa, and El Carihe in the Dominican Republic. Seven eminent academics in human rights and international law from universities in England signed a letter published in The Independent newspaper on 14 April 2006. Their letter concluded, “Given the existing level of discrimination and persecution experienced by the Baha’is in Iran, we can only have con- siderable fear about what the new measure will mean in practice.”

Six prominent Brazilian journalists and three media organiza- tions received “world citizenship awards” at a Baha’f—sponsored event in Brasilia. The awards for media coverage promoting human rights were presented at a ceremony at the Ministry ofJustice on 13 December 2005. The award was for acknowledging the media that paid close attention to vulnerable sectors ofsociety and highlighted the challenges facing civil society. Award winners were selected from among hundreds of candidates. In his acceptance speech, award recipient Marcelo Canellas of “TV Globa,” Brazil’s biggest broadcaster, said that receiving the award reinforced for him the importance of the humane side ofjournalism. “It confirms for me that journalism is a vocation,” Mr. Canellas said. Another winner, Gilberto Dimenstein, a columnist for the newspaper Folha de 5&0 Paulo, said that the award showed that the media’s role is much more than just reporting bad news. The nine—person jury comprised representatives of human rights and legal groups and two members of the Brazilian Baha’i community.

Baha’i media professionals won a total of 12 awards from the United States Religion Communicators Council for excellence and merit in the production of various informational materials. The awards for professional religion communicators were presented on

[Page 83]YEAR IN REVIEW 83

i ‘ '\ . "=5 - fant/[e Gebaa’i ([61?) and [ml Azpum present their weekly Baba’ ’z’—z'mpz'red radio program.

30 March 2006 as part of the council’s annual national convention. Known as the DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards, they are pre— sented to members of the council who demonstrate excellence in religious communications and public relations, and are given in a wide variety of categories, from writing to Web site design. Baha’t’l’ professional religion communicators won seven Awards of Excel— lence for the production of magazines, booklets, books, special issue publications, CD illustration, and Web site design. Mr. Brad Pokorny, the editor of One Country, the newsletter of the Bahé’l’ International Community, won two awards this year. He won an Award of Excellence in the category for “public relations materials, booklets” for 7776 Ba/wi’z’ Question, a booklet about the human rights situation of the Bahé’fs in Iran, which was published by the Office of Public Information of the Bahé’l’ International Community. He also won a Certificate of Merit for an editorial in One Country titled “The Challenge of Extreme Poverty.”

A weekly radio program aimed at providing a service to the Bahzi’f communities scattered across more than 100 islands of the Torres Strait in the far north of Australia attracted participation by many of the majority Christian population. The program uses a talkback format and functions as an on—air “study Circle.” The program is

[Page 84]84 THE BAHA’I’ WORLD 2005—2006

broadcast on the Thursday Island community radio station 4MW, which is listened to by some 85 percent of Torres Strait residents. Titled “Baha—Bi—Buiya,” which means “Light—Light—Light” in the two main dialects of the Torres Strait and in Arabic, the program has been broadcast for more than a year. The presenters read passages from the Baha’i writings before the audience participates in often lively discussions.

More than 70 participants from 33 European countries took part in a Public Information Management Seminar in Sofia, Bulgaria, hosted by the Baha’i International Community’s Office of Public Information in Paris and the National Spiritual Assembly of Bulgaria, 30 June to 3 July 2005. Workshops dealt with such themes as media relations, Web sites, and the role of the arts in public informa— tion activities. A reception organized for the second evening of the seminar gave the participants an opportunity to meet a range of invited Bulgarian personalities. A well—known group of young, hearing—impaired dancers, Jestim, performed a series of cultural dances at the reception.

The death of former member 0fthe Universal House ofjustice, Dr. David Ruhe, was reported on the obituaries page of The Guard- ian newspaper in the United Kingdom on 26 September 2005. Alongside a color photograph of Dr. Ruhe, the article reported his achievements as a medical filmmaker and his distinction as a “lead— ing member of the Baha’i Faith.”

A Baha’i was interviewed on a popular Hungarian national television evening program, “Kultuthaz.” The 13—minute interview in December 2005 included a report on a socio—economic project with Roma mothers. Additionally, in January 2006, a devotional meeting at a Baha’i home was filmed and broadcast on “Kulturhaz.” A Baha’i new year event was also covered in the news section of a weekly national television program that discusses topical issues.

The auction of almost 1,000 items from the estate of the late jazz legend—and Baha’i—Dizzy Gillespie was widely reported on Inter- net news sites. The items came from the house he shared with his wife of 53 years, Lorraine, who passed away in 2004. The sale in New Jersey, USA, lasted 13 hours, raised around US$500,000, and included several rare Baha’i books and memorabilia. One report mentioned

[Page 85]YEAR IN REVIEW 85

?lbdu’l—Bzz/m’ (fi’ont, center) on His visit to Germany in 1913, with Ba/M’ ’2': andguem.

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how a “religious medallion that Gillespie wore around his neck to celebrate his allegiance to the Baha’i Faith” sold for US$3,500.

Baha’i participation at the opening of the new Welsh Assembly in Cardiff was reported in the Gwent Gazette on 23 March 2006. Mrs. Christine Abbas of Blaina was quoted as saying, “In all religions the teachings are the same about how we should behave towards one another, our families and our creator. No teachings tell us to kill one another, that is something mankind adds in ignorance.”

Centenary of the founding of the Baha’i community of Germany

More than 1,800 people gathered in Stuttgart on 10 September 2005, to celebrate the centenary of the establishment of the Baha’i Faith in Germany. Participants traveled from every region of the country and at least 25 other nations for the event at the Stuttgart Congress Center which commemorated a history both “dark” with crisis and “highlighted” by achievement.

Stuttgart was selected as the host city because German Baha’i history had its beginning there. Dr. Edwin Fischer, a dentist, had

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emigrated in 1878 from Germany to New York, became a Bahal

[Page 86]7

86 THE BAHA 1’ WORLD 2005—2006

[mide the Baba' ’1’ House 0fVVor5/9ip at Langenbain during the centenary celebrations 0ft/7e Brz/m’ ’2' community ofGermany.

A local Baba’ ’1’ children’s classfiom t/ae Anna Kaestlin ScbuZe perform; 12 dance routine at tbejubilee.

[Page 87]YEAR IN REVIEW 87

there, and then returned to his home country to promote the Baha’i teachings.

A series of presentations, highlighted with archival film Clips and photographs, depicted historical events, including the arrival of Dr. Fischer in 1905, the visit of ‘Abdu’l—Baha to Germany eight years later, and the consecration of the first European Baha’i House of Worship in Langenhain in 1964. The program also took note of the period when the Faith was banned under Nazism. A dramatic performance showed the interrogation of a Baha’i at a police station by a Nazi official.

One of the speakers at the event was Mr. Ian Semple, a former member of the Universal House of Justice, who represented the Baha’i Faith’s international governing body at the occasion and read a message from it that referred to the arrival of the Baha’i Faith in Germany and its subsequent expansion. “The spark lit in 1905,” the message said, “has burgeoned into a conﬂagration.” The Universal House of Justice added “this is a moment for reﬂection, profound reﬂection—one that recounts the highlights in contrast to the dark aspects punctuating the history ofcrisis and victory that depicts the evolution of the German [Baha’i] community.”

Mr. Semple also delivered two talks which quoted from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi about the destiny of the German Baha’i community. He said that the central task for the German Baha’i community today lies in its contribution to the “Vital task” of building a new, just, and peaceful global society. “In this age all the specific destinies are linked in the one enormous task of unifying the world and attaining the maturity of human society,” said Mr. Semple.

Another speaker, Stuttgart’s deputy mayor for social affairs, Gabriele Mueller—Trimbusch, thanked Baha’is for their initiative in starting World Religion Day. “The respect you pay to other world religions, your openness for people who have different opinions, your message of peace for the world we live in, makes you a greatly appreciated partner for us,” she said. “Stuttgart highly values the activities of the Baha’i community, because it participates in the social life of our city in an exemplary manner.”

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha‘i’s of Germany also addressed the gathering, as did a guest, the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, William E. Davis,

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who emphasized the “chain of deep and abiding love that binds our two communities.”

After World War II, the American Baha’l’s sent money, food, and literature to German Baha’r’s, and helped them rebuild their com- munity and administrative structures. A former Us soldier stationed in occupied postwar Germany, Mr. John Eichenauer, who helped the German Baha’i community at that time, was a featured guest. He spoke about his experiences during the first days of the reconvening of the German Baha’i community.

The commemoration followed other events, held in April and May 2005, to celebrate Germany’s Baha’i centenary. On 22 April 2005, more than 150 specially invited guests attended a reception held at the national Baha’i center in Hofheim-Langenhain. Among those attending were dignitaries representing the cities of Hofheim and of Wiesbaden, as well as representatives of the government of the federal state of Hesse, of the federal and the European Parlia— ments and of different political parties. Mr. Teuto Rocholl, the architect of the first European Baha’i House of Worship, was also present. Professor Dr. Joachim—Felix Leonard, the state secretary from the Ministry for Science and Art, conveyed the greetings of the government and described the Baha’i message as “cosmopolitan, global, and modern.” Following a reception, the guests were invited to attend a special devotional service in the House of Worship. Ms. Gisela Stang, the mayor of Hofheim, praised the Baha’l’s say— ing they “provide an important impulse for the city and for society.

They enrich our city."

NOTES

‘ Bahé’u’llah, in A Compilation on Brz/M’ ’I'Eduaztion (London: Baha’i Publish— ing Trust, 1976), p. 2.

2 ‘Abdu’l—Baha, Selections ﬂow the Wiring; 0f Hba'u’l—Ba/m’ (Wilmette, IL: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1996), section 106.1.

3 ‘Abdu’l-Baha, T/Je Promulgtztz'mz of Universal Peace: 7211/6 Delivered by Hladu’l—Bzz/m’ During Hi5 Visit t0 the United State: and Canada in 1912, rev. ed. (Wilmette, IL: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1995), p. 76.

4 Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Elks: Addresses Given by Hbdu’l—Ba/Jzz’ in Paris in 1911—1912 (London: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1972), pp. 52—53.

3 Shoghi Effendi, “The Faith of Baha’u’llah” in erd Order, vol. 7, n0. 2 (Winter 1972—73), p. 7.

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